Albares highlights in Santo Domingo upcoming regularization of Dominican immigrants residing in Spain

Eduardo González Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares emphasized this Tuesday in Santo Domingo the importance of the “thousands of Dominicans perfectly integrated” in Spain, who contribute to the country's “economic and social development,” and noted that “many more” will be added to their ranks “in the near future” as part of the “regularization process that the Spanish Government has just launched.” Albares made these remarks during a joint press conference with Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, as part of his new tour of Latin America and the Caribbean, which includes Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico. The visit to Santo Domingo was in reciprocity for the meeting the two ministers held in Madrid in May 2025. The Spanish minister is accompanied by the Secretary of State for Ibero-America and the Caribbean, Susana Sumelzo; the Spanish Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Lorea Arribalzaga; and others. “This is the third time I have traveled to the Dominican Republic as Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,” Albares explained to the press after his meeting with Álvarez. “This is one of the countries I have visited most frequently as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and that is further proof of the extraordinary relations with a country that, for Spain, is a brother nation,” and with which “we share a great affinity marked by history and that common language, that community that unites us—600 million people, the Spanish speakers,” he continued. “Spanish is a global language, and nowhere else, as here in the Americas, is the weight and importance of that global language felt more keenly,” especially “in these complex and turbulent times in world geopolitics,” in which “humanity needs the Spanish language, a global language spoken in every corner of the planet, a language of understanding, a language of peace,” he affirmed. “This year is also very special because we will be hosting the Ibero-American Summit in Madrid on November 4 and 5,” he noted. “The Dominican Republic has always played as a team, has always built the Ibero-American community, and therefore will be more than welcome in Madrid,” he added. Dominican community and regularization According to Albares, “we perceive this closeness with the Dominican Republic and with Dominicans daily in Spain with the thousands of Dominicans perfectly integrated into our country, who contribute to our economic and social development.” “Many more will be joining them in the coming days, as part of the regularization process that the Spanish Government has just launched for those Dominicans who already live among us and whose rights we will recognize,” he announced. Speaking to the media afterward from the residence of the Spanish ambassador in Santo Domingo, Albares stated that his Dominican counterpart had “thanked him for the humanity shown throughout the entire process, and did so very emphatically.” “The Dominican government’s cooperation is total and absolute” because “it is aware that the Dominican community is one of those that will benefit the most from this,” he added. In any case, the minister could not specify how many Dominicans will be able to regularize their status in Spain. “Neither of us has figures at the moment, but very likely, when the process is complete, it will be easy to break it down,” he added. There are currently almost 270,000 Dominicans residing in Spain, including both those born in the Dominican Republic and first-generation descendants born in Spain. The Dominican presence is especially high in Madrid and Catalonia, and the naturalization rate for this community is very high, with 70 percent holding dual nationality. The number of Dominicans in an irregular situation in Spain is very low compared to other groups, but some Dominican media outlets have estimated that around 10,000 citizens of this nationality could benefit from the extraordinary regularization approved by the Government. Businesses, investments, and tourism Albares also highlighted “the extraordinary health of our bilateral relations at all levels” and recalled the meeting he held this Monday with some of the leading companies and representatives from the country's main sectors. “Here in the Dominican Republic, Spain is currently the leading investor in this country, one of the top exporters, and also one of the main sources of tourists to the Dominican Republic,” he stated. “More than 200,000 Spaniards travel here every year,” he added. “We will continue to strengthen our trade and investment ties, and we appreciate the Dominican government’s involvement in welcoming and hosting these companies,” Albares emphasized. “There are traditional sectors like tourism, but this is also expanding to other sectors: energy, renewables, engineering, and construction,” added Albares, who was able to learn “first-hand” about a Spanish cooperation project focused on improving the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s capabilities, “which aims to strengthen the care and protection of victims of gender-based violence, which, as you know, is one of the top priorities of the Spanish government and Spanish Cooperation.” Haiti Albares conveyed to Álvarez “Spain’s firm commitment to working together on the stabilization of Haiti,” and the minister later assured him that Spain would be willing to participate in a multilateral mission in the country. “I have been very clear from the beginning, and every time a multilateral operation for Haiti has been proposed, Spain has been present and will be again,” he affirmed. “We are one of the few countries in the world that has not closed its embassy in Port-au-Prince,” he noted. “With Foreign Minister Álvarez, we discussed that the best way to restore order and respect for the rule of law is for the gangs to disappear. Then, once the conditions for stability are in place, we can begin to think about Haiti’s development, and of course, Spain will be there,” he added. Roberto Álvarez For his part, Roberto Álvarez highlighted the strength of the relations between the Dominican Republic and Spain and the close ties between both countries in terms of cooperation, cultural exchanges, and joint vision for the future. “This closeness has a concrete and profound expression: Spain is home to the second largest Dominican community in the world, with more than 200,000 inhabitants,” he noted. “We sincerely thank the people and government of Spain for the welcome they have extended to our people, who today actively contribute to the economic, social, and cultural life of that country,” he continued. That community, he affirmed, “is, in many ways, the most vivid manifestation of the bonds we have been building and weaving over time, and it is precisely that shared experience that allows us to look at our history with serenity.”

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